1994 Mercedes-Benz Sl Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1994 Mercedes-Benz Sl, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Electrical1359.1%
- Driver assistance313.6%
- Exterior lighting14.5%
- Other / unspecified14.5%
- Powertrain (other)14.5%
- Brakes14.5%
- Visibility14.5%
- Engine14.5%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
THERE ARE MULTIPLE INHERANT FLAWS WITH THIS MODEL VEHICLE THAT AFFECT THE SAFETY AND ROADWORTHINESS OF THIS AUTOMOBILE INCLUDED HERIN AS ABSERVED BY ME IN MY OWNERSHIP. I HAD REPLACED THE MAIN ENGINE WIRING HARNESS THAT HAD INSULATION ON THE WIRES THAT LITTERALLY TURNED TO DUST! THESE WIRES WERE FREE TO ARC ON EACHOTHER CAUSING SUDDEN LOSS OF ACCELERATION, CAUSING SUDDEN ACCELERATION(THIS CAR IS EQUIPED WITH AN ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY AND WILL ACCELERATE WITHOUT DRIVER IMPUT), FINALLY FAILED THROTTLE RESPONSE! ALL OF THESE INSTANCES CAN, AND WILL CONTRIBUTE TO SAFETY ISSUES IN THE FUTURE, AND CERTAINLY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO ACCIDENTS IN THE PAST, I CAN'T BEGIN TO TELL YOU HOW LUCKY I AM TO BE ABLE TO REPORT THESE ISSUES HAVING NARROWLY ESCAPED MANY POTENTIAL ACCIDENTS (THANKFULLY OTHER CARS HAVE RELIABLE BRAKING SYSTEMS). (THAT WAS THE FIRST HARNESS REPLACED). THE SECOND HARNESS TO FAIL ON ME WAS THE STARTER HARNESS, AGAIN ALL OF THE INSULATION LITERALLY CRUMBLED TO DUST AND LEFT BARE UNFUSED HOT WIRES EXPOSED, THIS COULD RESULT IN A BATTERY EXPLOSION, ARCING ETC... THE THIRD HARNESS THAT I HAVE JUST BEEN MADE AWARE IS YET AGAIN FAILED IS THE AIR FLOW METER HARNESS AS DIAGNOSED BY MERCEDES BENZ OF CINCINNATI. AGAIN THESE WIRES ARE BARE AND I COULD PHYSICALLY SEE THE WIRES ARCING, WHICH RESULTED IN MANY DRIVEABILITY ISSUES, INCLUDING LOSS OF ACCELERATION. I REALLY TRUELY AM AMAZED THAT THIS CAR HAS NOT CAUGHT ON FIRE YET! THE FINAL FLAW IS THE STARTER IS LOCATED LITERALLY INCHES FROM THE FUEL VAPOR CHARCOAL CANISTER, IT LITERALLY PURGES FUEL VAPOR DIRECTLY ONTO THE STARTER! ON MANY CASES THE CAR HAD A FUEL SMELL WHILE WALKING TO THE CAR, I WOULD THEN TURN THE KEY WITH A HUGE BRIEF EXPLOSION FOLLOWED BY SMOKE ROLLING OUT OF THE ENGINE BAY. IT PUZZLES ME HOW MERCEDES HAS FAILED TO PROVIDE THEIR CUSTOMERS WITH A SAFE AUTOMOBILE. I WOULD BE HAPPIER WITH A BLOWN ENGINE!!! *TR
FAULTY BIODEGRADABLE WIRING IN CAR CAUSING A LOT OF PROBLEMS AND I NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT TO ERRATIC ENGINE FUNCTION 3 TIMES. *TR
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
FAULTY BIODEGRADABLE WIRING IN CAR CAUSING A LOT OF PROBLEMS AND I NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT TO ERRATIC ENGINE FUNCTION 3 TIMES. *TR
INTERMITTENT IDLE CHANGE AND IDLE SURGES DURING DRIVING. ALSO WHEN COMING TO A STOP THE CAR CUTS OUT. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 MERCEDES BENZ SL-500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE HEADLIGHTS LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES. THE FIRST TIME THEY REPLACED A COMPUTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM, AND THAT THE DEALERSHIP WILL REPLACE SOMETHING DIFFERENT EACH TIME THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS HAPPENED ON A REGULAR BASIS, MORE AND MORE OVER TIME. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM FOR APPROXIMATELY 2-3 YEARS. THE CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OVER TEN YEARS OLD. THE VEHICLE IS BEING SERVICED AT THIS TIME.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
RECALL OF WINDSHIELD WIPER SYSTEM, REPAIRED 12/5/1996 BY A MERCEDES-BENZ DEALER AND IN JANUARY 2004 (7 YEARS, 1 MONTH, ) I INCURRED A $676.53 REPAIR BILL, FOR THE SAME HEAD LIGHT WIPER SYSTEM RECALL.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
THERE ARE MULTIPLE INHERANT FLAWS WITH THIS MODEL VEHICLE THAT AFFECT THE SAFETY AND ROADWORTHINESS OF THIS AUTOMOBILE INCLUDED HERIN AS ABSERVED BY ME IN MY OWNERSHIP. I HAD REPLACED THE MAIN ENGINE WIRING HARNESS THAT HAD INSULATION ON THE WIRES THAT LITTERALLY TURNED TO DUST! THESE WIRES WERE FREE TO ARC ON EACHOTHER CAUSING SUDDEN LOSS OF ACCELERATION, CAUSING SUDDEN ACCELERATION(THIS CAR IS EQUIPED WITH AN ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY AND WILL ACCELERATE WITHOUT DRIVER IMPUT), FINALLY FAILED THROTTLE RESPONSE! ALL OF THESE INSTANCES CAN, AND WILL CONTRIBUTE TO SAFETY ISSUES IN THE FUTURE, AND CERTAINLY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO ACCIDENTS IN THE PAST, I CAN'T BEGIN TO TELL YOU HOW LUCKY I AM TO BE ABLE TO REPORT THESE ISSUES HAVING NARROWLY ESCAPED MANY POTENTIAL ACCIDENTS (THANKFULLY OTHER CARS HAVE RELIABLE BRAKING SYSTEMS). (THAT WAS THE FIRST HARNESS REPLACED). THE SECOND HARNESS TO FAIL ON ME WAS THE STARTER HARNESS, AGAIN ALL OF THE INSULATION LITERALLY CRUMBLED TO DUST AND LEFT BARE UNFUSED HOT WIRES EXPOSED, THIS COULD RESULT IN A BATTERY EXPLOSION, ARCING ETC... THE THIRD HARNESS THAT I HAVE JUST BEEN MADE AWARE IS YET AGAIN FAILED IS THE AIR FLOW METER HARNESS AS DIAGNOSED BY MERCEDES BENZ OF CINCINNATI. AGAIN THESE WIRES ARE BARE AND I COULD PHYSICALLY SEE THE WIRES ARCING, WHICH RESULTED IN MANY DRIVEABILITY ISSUES, INCLUDING LOSS OF ACCELERATION. I REALLY TRUELY AM AMAZED THAT THIS CAR HAS NOT CAUGHT ON FIRE YET! THE FINAL FLAW IS THE STARTER IS LOCATED LITERALLY INCHES FROM THE FUEL VAPOR CHARCOAL CANISTER, IT LITERALLY PURGES FUEL VAPOR DIRECTLY ONTO THE STARTER! ON MANY CASES THE CAR HAD A FUEL SMELL WHILE WALKING TO THE CAR, I WOULD THEN TURN THE KEY WITH A HUGE BRIEF EXPLOSION FOLLOWED BY SMOKE ROLLING OUT OF THE ENGINE BAY. IT PUZZLES ME HOW MERCEDES HAS FAILED TO PROVIDE THEIR CUSTOMERS WITH A SAFE AUTOMOBILE. I WOULD BE HAPPIER WITH A BLOWN ENGINE!!! *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE, ENGINE STOPPAGE, DEACTIVATION OF ABS, ASD, SEAT BELTS, ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS, LIGHTS. WHEN GOING OVER A RAILROAD TRACT, ROAD VIBRATION CAUSED DETERIORATED WIRING INSULATION (INSIDE A BUNDLE OF WIRES) TO FALL OFF CAUSING A MASSIVE ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT. APPARENTLY SEVERAL MODEL YEARS OF THESE CARS WERE MANUFACTURED WITH WIRE INSULATION THAT 'CRUMBLES' TO A POWDER. THIS CONDITION IS NOT VISIBLE DURING ORDINARY INSPECTION AND REQUIRED ONE TO CUT OPEN THE ENCAPSULATED WIRING HARNESSES. FAILED WIRING HARNESSES FOR THESE CARS ARE COMMON I LEARNED FROM SEARCHING THE MDZ BULLETIN BOARDS. I HAVE 6 FAILED ELECTRONIC THROTTLE ACTUATORS (AT $1800 EACH!!) EXHIBITING THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. ONE EXHIBITED UNCOMMANDED WIDE OPEN THROTTLE. THE OTHERS FAILED BY ENTERING THE 'LIMP HOME' MODE. MERCEDES BENZ NORTH AMERICA IS AWARE OF THIS SERIOUS DEFECT BUT REFUSES TO REPAIR OR WARRANT THIS DEFECTIVE SAFETY SYSTEM. I WAS SHOCKED THAT MY CAR SHUT OFF COMPLETELY AND A SMALL FIRE ERUPTED IN THE MAIN ENGINE WIRING COMPARTMENT HARNESS. *NM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
RECALL OF WINDSHIELD WIPER SYSTEM, REPAIRED 12/5/1996 BY A MERCEDES-BENZ DEALER AND IN JANUARY 2004 (7 YEARS, 1 MONTH, ) I INCURRED A $676.53 REPAIR BILL, FOR THE SAME HEAD LIGHT WIPER SYSTEM RECALL.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 MERCEDES BENZ SL-500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE HEADLIGHTS LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES. THE FIRST TIME THEY REPLACED A COMPUTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM, AND THAT THE DEALERSHIP WILL REPLACE SOMETHING DIFFERENT EACH TIME THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS HAPPENED ON A REGULAR BASIS, MORE AND MORE OVER TIME. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM FOR APPROXIMATELY 2-3 YEARS. THE CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OVER TEN YEARS OLD. THE VEHICLE IS BEING SERVICED AT THIS TIME.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .